Update,
My permit got put on hold for a 2nd time, this time by the plan examiner. He had 6 things:
3 of which were about my architect quoting out dated code :x
2 are about the wall I am going to tear down (my 1st post in this construction forum was about this wall being load bearing or not and a girder truss). Architect did not put anything in drawing to show that the wall is not load bearing and of course the plans examiner questioned this asking for a drawing of the truss system showing bearing of truss.
The last thing was about my screen wall header, architects drawing did not clearly show were it is, how or what it's holding up.
I go that hold letter last week and Architect is working on it.
I've been busy with gigs, wife home for summer vacation and building this play fort in back yard.
A while ago I mentioned I had a friend...drummer/sound engineer who is building an addition to his house for a studio (previously it was unattached but now it's attached). I worked with him last week. Turns out he had his electric service panel upgraded and moved just like me but he got it done $200 cheaper AND most interesting his builder and architect decided to do the exact same thing as mine in regards to what to call the room to be a studio... he's got a permit for a storage room and then once he's got his final inspection he'll be doing the same thing as me...tearing out newly done electrical work THEN adding Air conditioning and building double walls for a studio without permit. Our architects do not know one another. If I hear one more case of this, it could be called the trend in Florida.
I'm off to South Florida gigs for the weekend. One is a tux gig, outside... we're going to melt.
Marc
One is a tux gig, outside... we're going to melt.
Whydya think penguins live in Antarctica? :wink:
Here's an idea - if your dumb-ass architect thinks it's OK to work with outdated code, pay him with an outdated check... :twisted:
I just have to go on record to say that doing construction with a permit, only to turn around and do something without a permit that would otherwise not be allowed, in my opinion defeats the purpose of getting a permit in the first place.
--Keith :mrgreen:
Here's an idea - if your dumb-ass architect thinks it's OK to work with outdated code, pay him with an outdated check...
I was pretty upset about the outdated code thing but, in slight defense of architect… He changed no words of code on the plan. He changed one “2001” to a 2004” and the other spots where the plan examiner sited outdated code Architect put in big print “2004” which he already had “2004” but in small print. In my case the old code was the same as the new and the architect really only made one mistake... the plans examiner turned it into 3... which makes me realize the plans exmainer really did not look at the plan.
Architect did make another drawing on plan to show truss direction for my non load bearing wall I'm tearing down. Comparing the original and revised drawings I now see how the architect showed direction of truss in original, the revised plan just made it really clear for the plans examiner that I'm not tearing out a load bearing wall.
Now I just have to finish a few other projects I’ve started around my property so they don’t remain undone, before I start to work on my room.
Hopefully I can start next week... but
My gigs have increased, I've been covering other players gigs, had to learn a bunch of cover songs for band gigs, I’ve bought more PA gear, I’m now getting calls to do live sound and/or band to back other acts/shows. All that plus having a pregnant wife (I forgot how much extra work I got to do around the house) is keeping me busy and is why I’ve not posted for a while.
I may lower my goal of getting my studio complete by the arrival time of our 2nd child, due at the end of Novemember. The goal might just become getting the permitted storage/studio room done with no "inner room/walls... then get the garage back in order so that I can put all the stuff that was in garage which is now in the baby's room back in garage... then remodel baby room... then complete studio. :roll:
Marc
Marc! Congratulations on your permit! That is most excellent news. I know you went through a bit of pain on that effort, and you're probably still in for some pangs forthcoming... But in the end I'm certain you'll be glad you did. :)
That's great that you're keeping so busy with paying gigs. I realize it's pushing back completion of the studio and that can be frustrating... Just try not to get too stressed about it. "It'll get done when it gets done." That's what my wife told me a hundred times before I finally started to adopt that attitude myself. Once I did that, I became a much more pleasant person around here. ;-)
It's funny how you have all the other projects around the house that you've started and need to finish. I've got tons of them that I have yet to start because I don't want them to get in the way of my studio progress! :lol: Ironically, they include a lot of landscaping projects. In fact, I talked with the wife about a new back yard design yesterday... :roll:
--Keith :mrgreen:
Hey Keith and Leftweg....
Yup busy with gigs, life, and my son (almost 4) has figured out how to operate my desktop computer over the last month. My wife has another computer right next to mine but I got the bigger screen and graphics card.
Funny you guys bumped this thread today, this is the 1st time I've even looked at this forum in weeks. :shock:
Gigs did slow down last week (I've spent a week recovering), and a planned slow down of gigs will continue through August. My wife goes back to work Wednesday (school teacher, kids start in August here) and son will go to babysitters 5 days a week and I have to cracking on my room.
BUT I got to play a delicate balance of getting the room done and increasing paying gigs for once the baby is hear, there goes the wife's income. Then again I have the baby's room packed with crap from the garage that can't go back out there until the room is atleast "shelled" in.
I did make some progress on studio equipment though.... I dropped one of my SKB style racks off the dolly (again) and this time lid did not go back on at all, even with the bungie cord that's held lid on great since last time I dropped the rack 2 or 3 years ago... so I bought 2 new racks. Both Gator racks, one is a "studio to go" rack with a laptop compartment on the top and 4 spaces below. GREAT RACK, I love it saves me 5 mins of set up time and I don't carry a laptop bag anymore... plus my racks are not top heavy anymore.
New rack with laptop compartment, my son taking over my desktop, not having wifi internet on current laptop, knowing I'll want a new computer for studio and wanting to get more weight out of my live rig setup (I'm converting from hardware to software synths)... lead to buying a new laptop.
I got a Dell E1505 Duo Core 2.0Ghz coming tommorow morning 8) Kinda so excited right now can't sleep. I had a real internal battle over MacBook and the Dell to use with Protools... but I got more computer for the money with the Dell PC, won't loose the right click on the mouse and won't have to acquire and rethink my way through Mac Software. It's iffy whether or not this Dell will run Protools 7.1 without a glitch (especially with running all the other software I need on it) and I'll have to wait until the studio is up before I spend more money upgrading from my Digi01 to a Digi02R to even find out if it will run well (Protools is native on Mac and there are few PC laptops that digidesign supports & almost all are older models no longer sold new, the Duo Core CPU just changed eveything)... oh well if it don't work I'll buy or build another desktop, maybe even a Mac.
So I should be posting next week with some progress... if I don't make any progress soon I'll be in real trouble.
Marc
Small update... actual work done:D
I got everything out of the way for cutting my concrete block wall. That is:
- Made the final re-arranging of tools, junk, etc... in garage so I can work on room.
- Took down my peg board for hanging tools.
- Got 8' wide storage shelf under peg board emptied and away from wall. I had it "nail gunned" (can't remember the name of that tool, to lazy to search) into the CB wall. I thought I was gonna have to fight with it but the nails were not that long and the shelf out rather easy.
- Disasembled large storage shelf made from 2x4's and 3/4 plywood, it had two 4' x 6' shelfs you could see it back in my electrical upgrade photos.
- Pulled trim off door and bottom of a wall.
- Removed drywall from the corner of the area where I'm going to cut.
See pic below.
This might not seem like a lot of work, but it's progress... the last bit of "work" towards the room I did was drive to the permit office and pickup my building permit over a month ago.
I was dreading going out in the garage to work today cause of heat. Turns out it was not that bad, except for when I had to climb near the ceiling the remove 2x4's I had on the wall. I drenched myself in sweat at that point.
One of my rechargable 18V drill batteries went bad. It won't take a charge, charger just stays in "evaluate" mode. I think using it outside building that playhouse killed it. I may have left in the heat too long. (still have finishing touches for that playhouse but it's way to hot to work on it, I'm going to wait till fall).
Next thing is to schedule a day next week with my keyboard player to get the concrete saw and cut the wall... if I have time I still got lot's of other little things to do... but in the last hour I just got 3 calls to cover gigs which puts me at 5 gigs total for the next 3 days. I ain't gonna have time to get much done. :roll:
Marc
I remember when I rearranged my garage to clear out the entire studio area in preparation for the work to be done, and in such a way so as to allow both cars to be parked in it. It reminds me a bit of this!
It's no small job, especially in the heat, so... Although it's not "sexy" progress, it's progress nevertheless!
I'm looking forward to seeing photos of you making fun progress that hopefully does not involve falling through ceilings very soon! 8)
--Keith :mrgreen:
I always like when progress gets made.... it's so... so progressive!
Even mild progress is satisfying....
I won't ever never forever post pics of my tools and work room...
UNTIL it gets organized again...
I went too long with having to hurry on small projects, and NOT put the tools, supplies, and stuff away properly...
It's a mess now...
K
... will be a guitar player and a keyboard player using a concrete saw with a 24" blade to cut a wall :shock:
Leftweg,
I won't ever never forever post pics of my tools and work room...
UNTIL it gets organized again...
I don't think we (or at least my household) can ever get "organized" until "everything" has found a "spot"... and then everybody in the house has to know where each thing they use or share belongs and remembers to put it back. The only organized areas of my house are the places where we've taken the time to make spots for things... and we slowly make spots for unorganized things... until we find a spot for everything, disaster areas remain. I don't think that's anything to be ashamed of, it just shows a busy life (unless you leave real garbage everywhere). In the case of a renovation, making a studio room I think it would be great to show PICS, of actual work being done and most of the time that work should be kinda messy. We all love pics on this forum, it helps tell the story of the work being done.
BTW I recently got organization motivation from www.babycenter.com (great for expecting parents) there is an article describing how busy households manage to get and stay organized a little bit at a time here:
http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/refc ... 64773.html
And just so I can rant... that "Fix A Flat" can of stuff does not work everytime. Wife had a slow leak, I pulled a nail out of tire and used the Fix-A-Flat at 1am in the morning. 3am (an hour ago) I findly came in after having to put the spare tire on her car...urh :x
Marc
Greeeeeat... My RX-8 has no spare tire... Just a Fix-A-Flat kit. Really! Spares are offered as an option and make the already dinky trunk practically useless.
FWIW:
I've NEVER been able to get a fix-a-flat can to be successful; used 'em maybe 3 times....
Is that the way the car comes from the factory, without a spare (even a donut)?.... Is the fix-a-flat stuff a 'professional' version of it, or just the standard stuff?
If it's the reg stuff, don't cancel the AAA membership.... :?
K
sharward wrote:
Greeeeeat... My RX-8 has no spare tire... Just a Fix-A-Flat kit. Really! Spares are offered as an option and make the already dinky trunk practically useless.
Yes, the RX-8s don't come with spare tires. Many sports cars do not. The thinking behind it is that they add weight, take up space, and are rarely used. So, to make up for the lack of a spare tire, they include a Fix-A-Flat type kit and a compressor. There is also free roadside assistance, in the event that the Fix-A-Flat won't cut the mustard.
--Keith :mrgreen:
I got a new dilemma for my room... CUTTING THE CONCRETE BLOCK WALL. I admit my ill planning is at fault here.
Plan was:
- Rent a WALL SAW... a concrete saw with 20" to 24" blade that will cut through a 8" deep wall in one slice. I wanted to rent one like in the pic attached below
- Make the 2 cuts at the outer edges of wall to remove, not remove entire wall yet.
- Build 2x4 frames, get inspection.
- Add exterior sheathing, door, etc... to get the room "inside" the house AND put up drywall on interior walls and then...
- remove the concrete block wall. Mess would be contained inside new room and at no point would a part of my garage have a big hole to the outside.
Other reason for making the cuts 1st is because both cuts are at a "T" in current wall junction. Once the cut is done the walls will be at an L. In order to make a clean cut I want to cut from one side of the wall only. Once the new outer/exterior walls of studio are up, making the cut from either side of the wall would be difficult, because the saw has a guard not allowing a cut right at a corner (anybody please correct me if I am wrong and a saw which can cut flush in corner exists... which I may be able to cost effectively acquire)
Please see below architect site plan.
NOTE it's hurricane season right now in Florida. A news story I just watched said about garage doors "if you can see light through any crack in the door then it's not good enough... garage door failure and possible roof lifting may happen during hurricane winds" GREAT... what about a 10' by 8' hole in the side of garage... WELL at least I do have a pile a 3/4" plywood I can rig up just in case.
The dilemma... I thought I could rent one of these wall saws... I can not find one :!: I can only find regular demo saws with 14" blades which only cut 5" deep for $55 a day. Plus you have to buy your own diamond tip blade at $100 or so. Now, if I do find a wall saw, a 24" diamond blade costs min $350 and I'm going to presume the rental cost of a wall saw would be expensive.
My options:
1. I've found a few companies in Orlando who cut concrete walls on a regular basis and use the wall saws (I even saw of pic of one with a 60" blade :shock: ). I am going to call them on Monday and try and get some ball park numbers. My guess is it'll be expencive, but how much I don't know.
2. I rent a demo saw which only cuts 5" deep. Me and keyboard player hack away at it OR me and neighbor (general kind of contractor) who has done 2 similar but not as precise jobs in the the past month hack away at it. He says he can get it real close BUT BUT BUT.... at one of these "T's" where the cut is, sits a girder truss holding up a good part of my main house roof.... so cutting to far off to the side by accident is not a welcome option.
I addition, with either option (especially #2) I am doubting whether it's not better just to completely remove the wall 1st, leave a big hole in my garage and then run as quick as I can to enclose the room before an unpredicted hurricane hits.
Guess I'll see on Monday what the ball park numbers might be, and try and get someone out for a real estimate and get the job done. I already have a "that's to expencive" number so hopefully they'll come below it. :roll:
To end on a good note... I am completely loving my new Dell E1505 2.0Ghz duo core laptop with wifi, blue-tooth, 120 Gig HD, 1 Gig-O-Ram, 15.4" wide screen... it flies!!!!!! and I love going any where in the house any having complete access to our other 2 computers. 8)
Marc
Cutting the wall is not delima anymore. The wall is coming down in the next 2 days. :D
Companies with wall saw all ball parked over $1,500. :?
Using keyboard player or the general kind of contractor next door with my help, does not seem like the better option to this:
I called the concrete guy I previously spoke with months ago. He just came by this morning. He and 2 other guys are going to tear out the wall tomorrow. $600 per day, he thinks he'll get it out in one day, if not then it'll be one more partial day. He's got a 16" demo saw which can cut 7" deep... or so he says.
All I have left to do is figure whether I am going to rent a dumpster for $200 or see if I can rent an open back trailer (for less money). Estimate is about 1 ton or more of block and concrete coming out.
AND I have to take more stuff out of the garage :D
The really good news of the day is... I chopped out some drywall on garage ceiling to see exactly where my girder truss sits. I had only ball parked it's location previously and my architect with out measuring said it was on the corner of where I am going to cut. This girder truss and what it sits on is holding up a significant part of my house... the truss is almost 1 foot away from where I am cutting!!!! So even if an inch to much of wall comes out, I'll be fine. :wink:
Marc
Awesome! 8) Take lots of pictures!
Hey -- quit worrying about such precison... Just make a hole in the wall like this!
Recovered from web.archive.org — originally hosted at http://www.nash-bridges.de/images/ti/bricks.jpg--Keith :mrgreen:
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-hawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! 8)
That's wild!!
What's funny is that I initially thought the point of the clip was the "not needing education." :lol:
Let's see that trailer get filled up with blocks. I'll be by after work to help out. ;-)
--Keith :mrgreen:
Not done yet....
1 of 2 posts.
wall-demo-B 002.jpg pic is of my GLASS patio table,
wall-demo-B 005.jpg of screen wall just before I took it down, notice all the cement dust on my pavers and garden.... screen didn't hold back any dust so I thought... down it comes too.
wall-demo-B 014.jpg and the follwoing few shots show demo saw and how much dust flies.
The Incredible Hulk doesn't need a dust. :roll:
These guys showed up with a minimul amount of equipment, I'll get a picture of the car before they leave. I lent them my splash goggles.
BUT the big boy "Incredible Hulk" can really handle that demo saw!
They are finishing up as a type. One big peice.... oh it just went CRASH... it was stuck in tere with the rebar.
Marc
Hooooooooly crap!!!!! 8)8)
That's an amazing amount of dust!!!
It looks like the whole building just imploded! :lol:
The best part is that we don't have to help in the clean-up! :twisted:
Thanks for sharing... :D
--Keith :mrgreen:
